Any good story has conflict, characters, rising action and, of course, the climax. The kicker. The big battle at the end. In hockey, we’ve got all that.

But our version of the Shootout at OK Corral is Game 7 of a playoff series.

That’s when the men are separated from the boys, when you leave everything on the ice and there literally is no tomorrow. It’s the most dramatic stage in the sport, Game 7 standing as the main event of any playoff series that has the power to make or break an entire season in one pressure-packed night. There are plenty of stale and tired expressions in sports, like the do-or-die match, the must-win game, the point of no return.

Game 7 is all that. And more.

The last three Stanley Cups have been won in seven games, making for the most dramatic possible finishes. Sure, the drama would have been through the roof if any of those games went to overtime, but Game 7 is exciting nonetheless. Anything can happen in Game 7. Anybody can win.

Congrats to Chris Chelios for appearing in his 22nd playoff season. He breaks the record of 21 seasons formerly held by Ray Borque. Chelios has missed only ONE playoff season in his career. (Kinda like Nick Libett). At 45 years of age, he is the second oldest player to ever play in a playoff game. The oldest guy was 52 years old and has a huge statue in fromt of his home arena.........

So I'm working as a cart boy at a golf course outside of Ann Arbor at the course that used to host the annual Jim Harbaugh celebrity golf invitational (maybe 1994 or so). All these semi-celeb/athletes start showing up and I'm one of the guys who is putting their golf bags on carts and making sure they know which hole they are going to, etc. (shotgun start).

Chelios gets dropped off with no golf clubs and two extremely hot women. He asks for a golf cart and then he drives off with the babes to a heavily wooded, secluded, part of the course that was under construction for a new hole they were building. They showed up randomly later after an hour or so, but they spent the rest of the day just sort of cruising around and getting bombed.

After the tournament was winding down and the golfers were dumping their carts back at the clubhouse, Chelios brought his cart back too, and ordered me to "call a limo" for him. I went into the clubhouse and asked the assistant pro to order a limo for Mr. Chelios, and didn't really think much of it after that.

About 45 minutes later, I get approached by Chelios, who was tracking me down to blame me for failing to get the G__ D___ limo for him and his "nieces." He was a real a-whole and as drunk as it gets. I just basically spent the rest of my time there trying to avoid him so that I wouldn't get my ass kicked in from of a bunch of b-list celebs.

Shortly afterward, Jim Harbaugh (also drunk out of his mind) decided to call everyone's attention and urinated all over the flowers by the first tee. It got a little ugly and the course refused to host the tournament going forward.

San Jose upset Nashville at home. San Jose is a popular choice to emerge from the West, but Jonathan CheeChoo got hurt and he's their big goal scoring threat.

Watched the Devils close out the Lightning in Game 1 last night. The Devils are a built for the playoffs team. Have been for over a decade.

Pittsburgh lost it's opener but there was a controversial reversal on a goal by Sidney Crosby. Those kids will be great next year. They are the most talented young team in the NHL. Just need some veteran defensemen and they will be a force.

Vancouver beat Dallas in Game 1 but it took 4 OTs.I like the Sedin boys and Luongo.

San Jose upset Nashville at home. San Jose is a popular choice to emerge from the West, but Jonathan CheeChoo got hurt and he's their big goal scoring threat. Glad San Jose won (Nabokov & Michalek)

Watched the Devils close out the Lightning in Game 1 last night. The Devils are a built for the playoffs team. Have been for over a decade.Hate NJ (back to C. Lemieux)....love the Lightning (not as much as the Wings though)!

Pittsburgh lost it's opener but there was a controversial reversal on a goal by Sidney Crosby. Those kids will be great next year. They are the most talented young team in the NHL. Just need some veteran defensemen and they will be a force.Neutral...I like both teams.